Brazil Chapecoense football team in Colombia plane crash

Image copyrightTeleantioquia via TwitterImage caption
The plane crashed in a mountainous area on its way to Medellin

A plane carrying 81
people, including a top Brazilian football team, has crashed on its
approach to the city of Medellin in Colombia.

Police say five people survived the crash but the rest of those on board died.
The chartered aircraft was carrying members of the Chapecoense football team.
The team was due to play in the final of the Copa Sudamericana, against Medellin team Atletico Nacional.
The
first leg of the final of the cup, South America's second most
important club competition, was scheduled for Wednesday, but has now
been suspended.
The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) said it was suspending "all activities".

Image copyrightAFPImage caption
The team were due to play in the first leg of the final of the Copa Sudamericana
Image copyrightMi OrienteImage caption
Rescuers can only reach the crash site by land - local media picture
Chapecoense issued a brief statement saying: "May
God be with our athletes, officials, journalists and other guests
travelling with our delegation."
It said it would refrain from any further statements until it had assessed the extent of the crash.
Later
the team's vice-president, Ivan Tozzo, told cable channal SportTV:
"There are a lot of people crying in our city, we could never imagine
this. Chapecoense is the biggest reason for joy here."
One of the survivors was confirmed as Chapecoense defender Alan Ruschel.
Reports
suggest that at least two other footballers - goalkeepers Jackson
Follman and Danilo - may have survived, as well as physiotherapist
Rafael Gobbato.
The sports network Telemundo Deportes tweeted (in Spanish) that Ruschel was in shock but conscious and talking, and asked to keep his wedding ring and to see his family.
The
team, from the southern city of Chapeco, was promoted to Brazil's first
division in 2014 and reached the final last week after a victory
against Argentina's San Lorenzo.
The British Aerospace 146
short-haul plane, operated by Bolivian charter airline Lamia and
carrying 72 passengers and nine crew, crashed in Cerro Gordo in the
municipality of La Union shortly before midnight local time (05:00 GMT).
According to a Colombian airport press release, it had reported an electrical fault to the control tower.

Medellin's Mayor Federico Gutierrez described it as "a tragedy of huge proportions".
The
Jose Maria Cordova de Rionegro airport, which serves Medellin, posted
on its Twitter account: "Confirmed, the aircraft licence number CP2933
was carrying the team @ChapecoenseReal. Apparently there are survivors."
Poor weather meant that the crash site, in a mountainous area, was only accessible by land, and later Medellin airport tweeted (in Spanish) that the rescue operation had been suspended.
There was no fire on impact, which appears to have increased the chances of survivors being found.
Conmebol said in a statement that its president, Alejandro Dominguez, was on his way to Medellin.
"The Conmebol family greatly regrets what happened. All activities of
the confederation are suspended until further notice," it said.

Chapecoense football team

Founded in 1973.

Promoted to the Brazilian top division, Serie A, for the first time in the club's history in 2014. Currently ninth.

Were flying to play in the first leg
of the final of the Copa Sudamericana - winner qualifies for Copa
Libertadores, top continental competition in South America.